Police want to examine phone of man shot, killed by officers

Police want to examine phone of man shot, killed by officers

(Mike Radice, KSL TV, File)


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CLEARFIELD — Police want to examine the cellphone of a man shot and killed by officers on a rooftop earlier this month.

Benjamin Heaton, 31, was shot by police on Aug. 3 after climbing onto the roof of a detached garage, 456 N. Fern Drive, and firing several rounds at officers, according to police.

Prior to being shot, law enforcers from several agencies were in a standoff with Heaton trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution. Clearfield police, however, say Heaton continued to make threats and at one point said he was going to kill an officer.

As the standoff continued to escalate, police say Heaton fired shots at officers, and police returned fire.

According to two search warrants unsealed Thursday in 2nd District Court, police want to examine Heaton's phone to put together a more accurate timeline of the events that morning, and to get a "further understanding of the mindset of the subject that was killed in this incident."

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Heaton ran from police after a Clearfield officer ran the license plate of the vehicle that he and his girlfriend were in and discovered it was stolen.

While on the roof during the hourslong standoff, Heaton "was seen using his phone to communicate with family and his girlfriend," the warrant states.

Police want to find out what Heaton and his girlfriend were talking about "in regards to the standoff with police, the stolen vehicle and any evidence of drug use that may have been discussed because of drugs found on Ben and the paraphernalia found in the stolen vehicle," according to the warrant.

Heaton's girlfriend, Charlene Johnson, 21, of Ogden, was arrested for investigation of "offenses related to the vehicle theft," according to Clearfield police.

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